The 70-year-old scion of the famous Kennedy dynasty has made headlines in the past with absurd claims and stories. Kennedy used to be a respected environmental lawyer, but in recent years he has often appeared as an anti-vaccination activist and spreader of conspiracy myths.
Kennedy’s nomination is part of a series of unusual personnel decisions by Trump, who in recent days has presented several candidates for important ministerial positions whose suitability appears questionable. Nominations must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Trump’s Republican Party has again had the majority of seats there since the congressional election on November 5th.
“In addition to lacking credentials or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health or administration, Mr. Kennedy was an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio,” it said it in the letter. “We urge you to vote against confirming his appointment.”
Among the signatories is the US immunologist Drew Weissmann, who, like the Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó, was honored with the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2023 because their basic research enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against the coronavirus.
